In the 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest, the Indian men's team delivered a commanding 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan in the fifth round. The win was significantly powered by World Championship challenger D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaise, who each won their matches against Aydin Sulemanli and Rauf Mamedov with impressive efficiency.

Praggnanandhaa secured a draw on board two, contributing to the Indian victory, while Vidit Gujrathi also drew his game against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in a prolonged match, sealing the team's triumph.

Following their fifth consecutive win, the Indian men have maintained a perfect record with 10 points. They are joined at the top of the standings by Vietnam, which defeated Poland 2.5-1.5. China and Hungary also joined the leaders' pack with similar 2.5-1.5 victories over Spain and Ukraine.

With six rounds remaining, Norway and Iran share the fifth position with 9 points each. Norway overcame a strong Turkey team 3-1, while Iran dominated Canada 3.5-0.5.

In the women's section, Grandmaster D. Harika faced an unexpected defeat, allowing Kazakhstan an early lead. Despite a promising position against Bibisara Assaubayeva, Harika misplayed and lost.

On the fourth board, Vantika Agarwal once again played a decisive role, winning her game with white pieces against Alua Nurman. Xeniya Balabayeva drew with Divya Deshmukh, and Vaishali clinched the victory by outmaneuvering Meruert Kamalidenova, leading India to a 2.5-1.5 win.

India's women's team now shares the lead with Armenia and Mongolia, each team having 10 points. Armenia defeated China 2.5-1.5, while Mongolia bested the United States by the same score. Georgia and Poland follow closely, trailing by half a point.

Gukesh, who has achieved four consecutive victories, capitalized on a significant middle-game advantage against Sulemanli. His strategic prowess resulted in a flawless conversion of his advantage into a win.

Arjun, the only Indian player to have competed in all five rounds thus far, continues to impress with his ability to create complex positions. His win against Mamedov involved a Sicilian Dragon structure, leading to a complex endgame where his precise calculation earned him his fifth victory.

Currently, Arjun's live rating stands at 2888 ELO points, just 12 points shy of the 2800 mark—a milestone reached by only Viswanathan Anand among Indian players.

As the tournament progresses, the Indian teams will continue their quest for gold. The women’s team will next face Armenia, promising another exciting round of chess.

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